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Original poster

Amount of people wearing masks

171 replies

Yetiyoga · 03/08/2020 22:33

I have seen a lot of people not wearing masks in shops here, I would never say anything as there may well be a reason. But on the scenes you see abroad where masks are mandatory everywhere, including outdoors, it seems that everyone just wears one there but lots of people in the UK seem to make excuses. I get being exempt, but are we just less tolerable?

OP posts:
Derbygerbil · 04/08/2020 21:45

We're a mask wearing area too

Is it the area, or is it shop or time of day?

Original poster
Yetiyoga · 04/08/2020 21:47

Thanks for all the input everyone. It seems I guess that overall people seem to be complying which is great. I've been in a few shops over the last week or so (2 supermarkets and then home bargains / b and m type shops) and there were a lot of people not wearing. Plus I see a lot on here saying they don't. So wondered if we are less tolerant but possible not afterall!

OP posts:
HotPenguin · 04/08/2020 21:51

I haven't seen anyone not wearing one, and when I went to the hairdresser's mist people were wearing masks too (though you aren't required to).

MarshaBradyo · 04/08/2020 21:52

I’d say 95% in supermarket here. Pretty much everyone and those not have it under their chin for some odd reason.

Balhammom · 04/08/2020 21:54

Same here. Lots of people walking around John Lewis without a mask.

Can we not ban everyone without a mask from shops?

If you’re exempt from wearing a mask, that doesn’t give you a right to transfer germs. You definitely shouldn’t be going to Non-essential clothes shops and similar. Completely selfish. Your “right” to not wear a mask doesn’t outweigh others’ right to be protected.

greytminds · 04/08/2020 21:56

I went into a petrol station a few days ago to pay for fuel and I was the only customer who was wearing a mask of the nine that came in/out in the time it took to fill up and pay. All middle-aged men, some of whom looked like they might tick a few boxes in terms of increased risk.

Also, we made the mistake of visiting friends staying in a Cotswolds town last Saturday and it was packed! Social distancing and mask wearing were not happening. I queued for a bakers and the family in front of me strolled in as a group, no masks, let their kids touch everything and also just let them repeatedly pump out the hand sanitizer at the door until it spilled out into a massive pool.

LangClegsInSpace · 04/08/2020 22:01

Can we not ban everyone without a mask from shops?

No. Contrary to popular opinion the Equality Act has not been cancelled because of coronavirus.

Derbygerbil · 04/08/2020 22:04

It seems like we’re living in different countries... Most places seem to be near 100% masks, yet other parts seem very patchy. It would be interesting if someone made a map!

Doublechins · 04/08/2020 22:15

I've seen less than 5 people not wearing them since it became compulsory. I also know many people who would be classed as exempt yet they still wear them

vanillandhoney · 04/08/2020 22:18

@Balhammom

Same here. Lots of people walking around John Lewis without a mask.

Can we not ban everyone without a mask from shops?

If you’re exempt from wearing a mask, that doesn’t give you a right to transfer germs. You definitely shouldn’t be going to Non-essential clothes shops and similar. Completely selfish. Your “right” to not wear a mask doesn’t outweigh others’ right to be protected.

No, because that would be discrimination.
Titsywoo · 04/08/2020 22:24

You also have to account for people who can't get hold of one, can't afford one or forgot! I've actually walked into shops twice recently and only realised after a minute or so that I wasn't wearing my mask so quickly put it on! We're not used to it and noone is telling you to put them on as you go inside so it can be easy to stroll in without thinking. Bit like forgetting your bag for life. I wish they would remind you as you walk in tbh!

bigbluebus · 04/08/2020 22:25

I went to Lidl today. Everyone was wearing a mask - except the staff - but 2 separate people were wearing them under their noses Hmm

AllTheUserNamesAreTaken · 04/08/2020 22:29

The supermarkets near here - everyone wearing masks.
Local shop (which I was going to pop into as I forgot weetabix ah supermarket!) - four people in queue and none of them in masks.

gamerchick · 04/08/2020 22:29

Less people are wearing them since they were made compulsory here. Shops aren't enforcing it because they can't be arsed with the aggro. The vast majority are men, don't know why that is. I also had a bloke in a shop earlier take pleasure of getting close to me as possible asking me questions about my mask. I was the only one wearing one in a small shop full of dudes.

I'm a bolshy bugger but I felt quite intimidated and couldn't get out of there fast enough. All of my Heebie hairs were up.

Lifeispassingby · 04/08/2020 22:30

My local GP surgery has said they will not issue exemption certificates for mask wearing as there is no reason for any one not to wear one. Other reports said no change in oxygen levels whilst wearing one so therefore everyone should be, unless you have a serious condition in which case you wouldn’t be well enough to be shopping anyway. Even if people feel exempt surely it’s in their interests to protect themselves and others and prevent the spread?

Samster45 · 04/08/2020 22:31

I’m in the north east and went to our local indoor shopping centre today for the first time. Every single person there (including all the teens hanging around the restaurants and cinemas) were wearing masks. Only ones I could see not were the small children.
One young girl I passed was panicked at the door as she hadn’t brought hers from the car and saw that everyone inside had one on so had to go back to her car to get hers.

lifesalongsong · 04/08/2020 22:31

I've been to supermarkets, city centre shopping, local small town shopping and B & Q and I'd say mask wearing is at about 95%.

I was surprised in a city centre on a busy Saturday that so many young men in groups were complying, I'd expected they would have the lowest level of masks

There really must be regional divides

morethanmeetstheeye · 04/08/2020 22:39

I went out for the first time today since lockdown and I definitely won't be going back out for a while. Far far too many people not wearing masks inside or has them slung under their noses.

LadyCatStark · 04/08/2020 22:41

I’ve seen very few people not wearing masks in our area. Mostly children that are with their parents but are clearly over 11.

LadyCatStark · 04/08/2020 22:42

Oh and one bizarre lady in Wickes who had hers hanging from one ear 🤨

Eaumyword · 04/08/2020 22:49

Almost everyone wears a mask around our way, which is great, but I do feel exasperated that many are wearing them well underneath the nose. I also saw today a number of people pulling their mask off or down to speak really close to a member of staff in a shop not wearing a mask, then pulling them back up again. I wouldn't say anything for fear of reprisal, or maybe someone being exempt and making an effort where they felt they could (ie: mouth covered not nose.) It just worries me if some folks think they are wearing a mask properly but don't realise you keep it over the nose?

manicinsomniac · 04/08/2020 22:50

My local GP surgery has said they will not issue exemption certificates for mask wearing as there is no reason for any one not to wear one. Other reports said no change in oxygen levels whilst wearing one so therefore everyone should be, unless you have a serious condition in which case you wouldn’t be well enough to be shopping anyway. Even if people feel exempt surely it’s in their interests to protect themselves and others and prevent the spread

Most of the reasons I've seen posted about on here have been mental health/neurological rather than physical health so I don't think the medical reasoning applies.

Plus you don't need a doctor's exemption certificate, you can just decide for yourself that you are exempt. I do think the self certification is problematic in some ways because it allows people who hate masks and get anxious and panicky about it to decide they have a real anxiety condition and are genuinely exempt when they really just have a strong negative reaction to them. But in other ways it's useful because it means people don't have to discuss personal and upsetting reasons why they may be exempt, they can just quietly opt out.

aneres · 04/08/2020 22:53

Near me in Greater Manchester about half of the people wore them in the shops last Friday and I find it hard to believe that everyone has a health condition that exempts them, some people made a token effort and had a mask on but tucked under their chin rather than over their face.

Augustseemsbetter · 04/08/2020 22:57

Just another one saying shoppers are all wearing them round our way.